You might have already noticed a post in our sister blog describing the new Google Desktop 5.5 Beta. That post covered the most visible new features, such as Desktop gadgets working on iGoogle and the improved Quick Search Box. We'll just talk about what the new version means for developers.

First, we'd like you to try out the features that Desktop gadgets get for free in this release:

Desktop gadgets are already included in the iGoogle gadget directory. Try this: Go to your iGoogle homepage, click Add stuff, search for a published gadget (for example, "Media Player"), and add it to your homepage.

It's easy to run multiple instances of a single gadget. Try this: Select "Add gadgets" (+ on the top sidebar menu), search for a gadget you're already running, and then add the gadget again. In previous releases, you wouldn't find gadgets you were already running; now multiple instances just work